Delegate Dave Pethtel (D-Wetzel) with WVEA Executive Committee member Elliot Kendle (from Wetzel County). (Photo provided by Davin White of WVEA)

Delegate Dave Pethtel, D-Wetzel, was one of eight people and one organization to receive awards during the West Virginia Education Association’s 2014 Delegate Assembly April 25 in Charleston.

Pethtel received a WVEA Margaret Baldwin Friend of Education award.

WVEA Executive Committee member Elliot Kendle noted that Pethtel has been a “staunch, steadfast supporter of education and the WVEA” whose record of service to education in the House of Delegates speaks for itself.

Pethtel is a retired teacher from Wetzel County and an active member of the WVEA and its local.

During later comments with the Wetzel Chronicle, Kendle remarked on the previous honorees with whom Pethtel will now be listed. “The list of previous recipients is quite impressive,” Kendle remarked. “Recipients include Dr. Jorea Marple, former Speaker of the House Rick Thompson, David Haney, Sen. Lloyd Jackson, Gov. Gaston Caperton, Del. Percy Ashcraft, Darrell McGraw, Warren McGraw, Judge Arthur Recht, Bob Wise, and Arch Moore.

“Wetzel County is extremely fortunate to be represented by Del. Pethtel,” Kendle remarked. “His hard work and dedication through the years has earned him the respect of everyone he works with in Charleston. He is known as a man of honesty and integrity.”

“This award is one of the highest honors given by the WVEA, and Dave’s record of working to improve education in West Virginia makes him truly deserving of the award. “To nominate Dave for this award and then have him recognized is one of my proudest moments as a WVEA member,” Kendle stated.

Pethtel himself stated that he was “honored and humbled to receive this Friend of Education award.”

“I personally know many of the prior recipients of this award,” Pethtel stated. “They were great political leaders and friends of education.”

He added: “I learned 40 years ago if I wanted to make a difference in the lives of students, teachers, and school service personnel, I had to get actively involved in the West Virginia Education Association.”

Larry Ford, Cindy Jafary, and Sally Susman also each received the WVEA Margaret Baldwin Friend of Education award during the Delegate Assembly banquet.

“Each definitely demonstrated commitment to the greater good of Raleigh County for students, teachers and service professionals,” Hamrick said of the board members.

In a related award, Hamrick and Co-President Wendy Peters, along with the entire Raleigh County Education Association, received the WVEA Mary Titus/Janet Zevnik Award for Professional Courage for standing up to the superintendent.

Donna Lee White, a former teacher at Kimball Elementary School in McDowell County, received the WVEA Pearl S. Buck Memorial Award.

Alvin Porterfield, of Greenbrier County, received an award for fostering relationships between public schools and the broader community, The WVEA Ermalee Boice Community Outreach Award.